Mark Campbell Ireland[1] (born 5 April 1960) became the Archdeacon of Blackburn in 2016.[2]
Ireland was educated at University of St Andrews and Wycliffe Hall Oxford; and ordained in 1985. He was a director of Saltmine Trust (company 02930528) from 2005 to 2008.[1] After curacies in Blackburn and Lancaster he held incumbencies in Baxenden, Walsall and Wellington with Eyton before his archdeacon's appointment.[3]
He is a member of the General Synod of the Church of England.[4] In relation to same-sex marriage, Ireland has stated: "I want to maintain the church's traditional doctrine of marriage, but also to belong to a church that truly welcomes and includes gay and lesbian people."[5]